Global War on Terrorism Memorial brings solace to many in the Greater Taunton area

Tuesday

Aug 14, 2012 at 12:01 AMAug 14, 2012 at 2:03 PM

Since it was unveiled in June, a steady stream of visitors has made its way to Church Green to check out Taunton’s Global War on Terrorism Memorial.

Marc Larocque

Since it was unveiled in June, a steady stream of visitors has made its way to Church Green to check out Taunton’s Global War on Terrorism Memorial.

Christina Wille McKnight, pastor of the First Parish Church that overlooks the memorial, said she sees new visitors every day appreciating the site.
“There are a ton of people of all ages stopping by to see the new memorial,” McKnight said. “There are a lot.”

Betsy Walters, temporary administrator at the church, agreed.

“We’ve been amazed at how many people have come by,” Walters said. “It’s just so nice to see.”

Walters said that guests have been seen bringing material for pencil rubbings, using paper to capture inscriptions on the personally dedicated bricks that make up a memorial walkway at the site. Walters said that often she’ll see visitors setting up folding chairs at the site, staying awhile and enjoying the scene.

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial was the result of an effort by a committee of local veterans and supporters. Members of the committee say they are proud to see so many people enjoying the site, especially after how much hard work went into it over the last few years.

“We are just tickled silly because the response has just been wonderful,” said Don French, a World War II veteran and member of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Committee. “It’s given an excuse for workers in the area to bring their lunch outside and to sit down on the benches at the memorial.”

The memorial consists of a black, granite tablet etched with the image of two soldiers — one mourning beside a battlefield cross, and another consoling him. Surrounding the tablet is a walkway composed of the memorial brick. A total of 1,000 bricks were donated, each dedicated to a U.S. military veteran.

“I drive by every chance I get,” French said. “There was a couple there the other day. I thought they might be looking for their relative’s brick. They knew very well where it was. They had a son serve in Iraq. They were looking around at all the other bricks for people they knew.”

French also said he has heard a lot of positive feedback about the formation of flags on one side of the memorial, greeting motorists coming into downtown Taunton. French said that those who visit the Global War on Terrorism Memorial end up checking out the Vietnam War Memorial that shares the site.

“It compliments the Vietnam Memorial very well,” he said.

Vietnam War veteran Dennis Proulx, another member of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Committee, said that he and others have all noticed how many visitors continue to come by.

“You drive by and there is always somebody there,” Proulx said. “It’s unbelievable.

There is always someone there looking for bricks that are dedicated to friends and family. They don’t only look for the brick they may have bought. They look at all the bricks.”

Proulx said he has heard many compliments about the tablet, engraved with an image by Linda Tillson.

Proulx credited Bill Egan, an Iraq War veteran, with overseeing some of the final touches to the project, including making sure all the remaining memorial bricks are correctly in place.

Egan said the response to the memorial has been overwhelming.

“I can’t thank the community more,” Egan said. “It’s just so fantastic. I’ve got to know a lot of people who come there. It’s veterans, wives, children and families coming back. It’s been very touching how people come by there every day just to sit there. It means a lot. We wanted to do it right, and we want to make sure it will last for a long, long time. We owe it to the veterans.”

Contact Marc Larocque at mlarocque@tauntongazette.com

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